U.S. patent number 5,165,527 [Application Number 07/653,417] was granted by the patent office on 1992-11-24 for chain conveyor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Regina Sud S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Carlo Garbagnati.
United States Patent |
5,165,527 |
Garbagnati |
November 24, 1992 |
Chain conveyor
Abstract
A chain conveyor comprises a link chain (14) with flat elements
of ferromagnetic material joined centrally by articulation elements
and a guide track (10) consisting of side shoulders (11, 12)
identifying a central channel (13). The side shoulders (11, 12)
have flat upper surfaces on which run the flat elements of the
chain near magnets (19) which are inserted in grooves (15,16)
lateral to the shoulders (11, 12) said grooves being subsequently
closed by strips (22, 23).
Inventors: |
Garbagnati; Carlo (Castello
Brianza, IT) |
Assignee: |
Regina Sud S.p.A. (Latina,
IT)
|
Family
ID: |
11173144 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/653,417 |
Filed: |
February 11, 1991 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 20, 1990 [IT] |
|
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20859/90[U] |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/805;
198/690.1; 198/831 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
21/2009 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
21/20 (20060101); B65G 015/60 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/805,690.1,831 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Olszewski; Robert P.
Assistant Examiner: Gastineau; Cheryl L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stevens, Davis, Miller &
Mosher
Claims
I claim:
1. Chain conveyor comprising a link chain with flat elements of
ferromagnetic material joined centrally by articulation elements
and a guide track consisting of side shoulders identifying flat
upper surfaces on which run the flat elements of the chain near
magnets housed in the shoulders and said shoulders identifying a
central channel in which run the articulation elements of the chain
and on the sides of which rest complementary projections of the
chain to guide said chain laterally and characterized in that said
shoulders each comprise a continuous groove open at one side and
housing an element complementary thereto and comprising seats in
which are received said magnets.
2. Conveyor in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said
continuous grooves are open at the sides on the face of the
shoulders turned toward said central channel.
3. Conveyor in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
magnet seats are open at the top.
4. Conveyor in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the
magnet seats are through passing.
5. Conveyor in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said
magnets have a substantially cylindrical form and are positioned
with vertical axes.
6. Conveyor in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that said
magnets are received in respective seats with interference.
7. Conveyor in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that each
of said continuous grooves in the shoulders has the said side
opening closed by closing elements extending the entire length of
the groove to constitute a running surface at least on the side for
the chain elements.
8. Conveyor in accordance with claim 7 characterized in that said
closing elements are strips with their lower edge restrained in a
complementary seat made in the bottom of the groove between the
shoulders near and parallel to each continuous groove.
9. Conveyor in accordance with claim 7 characterized in that said
closing elements extend at least to the upper surfaces of said
shoulders to constitute upper running surfaces for the chain
elements.
10. Conveyor in accordance with claim 7 characterized in that said
closing elements are fixed to said complementary elements
comprising the magnet seats.
Description
The present invention relates to a chain conveyor of the type
having generally flat upper conveying surfaces. In the chain
conveyor art there is the known embodiment consisting of curved
sections of the guide tracks in which are located under the running
plane of the conveyor magnets which hold the links made of
ferromagnetic material of the conveyor virtually in adherence on
the running plane despite the forces generated by the curved path
to which said links subject. The guide consist in general of two
shoulders on which rest the tops of the chain links, which together
identify a channel in which the links are received and pivoted. The
shoulders can have the configuration of an overturned U to identify
recesses to contain the magnets. For easier positioning of the
magnets this recess can be made up of a plurality of aligned seats
each of which contains a magnet and closed by a bottom strip as
illustrated for example in European patent EP 0 159 074.
Such a solution is however rather difficult to realize as it
requires considerable machining to obtain a plurality of seats in
the body of the rail. In addition, having to position a plurality
of magnets involves a certain amount of manual work which is also
obstructed by the relatively high force of mutual attraction and
repulsion of the magnets.
In addition, relatively complex means are required to push the
magnets from below toward the upper face of the guides on which the
chain runs and to maintain them in this position so as to minimize
the air gap.
Finally, said solution is rather inflexible since it is necessary
to change the entire rail if it is desired to change the magnetic
attraction force exerted on the running conveyor by using different
magnets, even as to size.
The general object of the present invention is to obviate the above
mentioned shortcomings by providing a rail with magnets easy to
fabricate and install and which would assure correct positioning of
the magnets.
In view of said object there is provided in accordance with the
invention a chain conveyor comprising a link chain with flat
elements of ferromagnetic material joined centrally by articulation
elements and a guide track consisting of side shoulders identifying
flat upper surfaces on which run the flat elements of the chain
near magnets housed in the shoulders and said shoulders identifying
a central channel in which run the articulation elements of the
chain and on the sides of which rest complementary projections of
the chain to guide said chain laterally and characterized in that
said shoulders each comprise a continuous groove open at the sides
and housing an element complementary thereto and comprising seats
in which are received said magnets. To further clarify the
explanation of the innovative principles of the present invention
and its advantages as compared with the known art there is
described below with the aid of the annexed drawings possible
embodiments as examples applying said principles .
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a curved running track of a
chain conveyor provided in accordance with the present
invention,
FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial perspective view of an element of
the track of FIG. 1, and
FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section view along plane of cut
III--III of FIG. 1.
With reference to the figures a track for a chain conveyor
indicated generally by reference number 10 comprises in accordance
with the invention two side shoulders 11 and 12 which identify
virtually flat upper surfaces and a central running channel 13 for
the link elements (one of which is drawn schematically in broken
lines in FIG. 3 and indicated by reference number 14) of
ferromagnetic material. In accordance with the innovative
principles claimed herewith, along the entire section of track
where magnets are to be provided there is made in each of the side
shoulders 11 and 12 a continuous groove 15 and 16, respectively,
with side openings facing the channel 13. Each of said continuous
grooves 15 and 16 is a seat for a complementary element 17 and 18
respectively.
One of said elements 17, 18 is shown partially in FIG. 2. Said
elements 17, 18 contain magnets 19 for example in the form of
cylindrical magnets with vertical axes. The elements 17, 18 are
advantageously moulded of plastic.
The seats for the magnets 19 can be made advantageously in the form
of holes in said elements and the magnets can be subsequently
inserted in said seats. The holes which receive them can be either
through passing with closures at the bottom ends and receive
advantageously the magnets with side interference to prevent
undesired extraction. Alternatively, the magnets can be
incorporated directly during molding of the elements.
It is clearly advantageously possible to position the magnets at
short regular intervals so as to obtain at the top of the shoulders
11 and 12 a substantially uniform magnetic field and thus
facilitate uniform running of the chain conveyor. This is
facilitated by a cylindrical form with vertical axis of the
magnets. It is also possible to provide elements with different
kinds of magnets or spacing between them to be applied
alternatively to the same type of guide body 10 depending on the
characteristics of magnetic adherence required for the
conveyor.
On the bottom of the channel 13 near and parallel to each groove
15, 16 there are made seats 20, 21 to receive each one the lower
edge of a strip 22, 23 respectively. The articulation elements 24
of the chain ride within the channel 13. On the sides of the
articulation elements 24 rest complementary projections 25, 26.
Said strips 22 and 23 close the respective grooves 15 and 16 and,
being advantageously provided of low friction material, constitute
side and top sliding surfaces for the links of the conveyor while
supplying side guidance for the chain elements thanks to the
central part projecting at the bottom of the latter.
From the above description it may be seen how the proposed objects
are reached.
Indeed, provision of the track is extremely simple both by milling
and by casting since the seats of the magnets consist of a
continuous groove with a substantially uniform cross section along
each of the two shoulders of the track.
The use of continuous elements inserted in the grooves in the rail
shoulders gives great torsional rigidity to the rail and also
provides uniform support for the upper part of the shoulders, thus
avoiding any bending.
Assembly of the constituent parts of the curve is very easy since
it is sufficient to insert the elements 17 and 18 already
containing the magnets and, finally, insert in place the sliding
strips 22 and 23.
The above mentioned difficulties of the known art of providing in
the track a plurality of seats or pockets for the individual
magnets and subsequently inserting in each seat of said plurality a
magnet while in the meantime taking care that the attraction and
repulsion forces of the magnets do not move them or extract them
from the seats before completion of filling and be able thus to
proceed with fixing them in place are completely eliminated.
Although the invention has been described for a specific embodiment
it is evident that many alternatives and variations, such as in
materials and dimensions, will be apparent to those skilled in the
art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the
invention is intended to embrace all of the alternatives and
variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, there could be provided the elements 17 and 18
comprising directly the strips 22 and 23 moulded in a single piece
therewith or cemented. In this case the groove 20 and 21 will be
absent and the elements 17, 18 with incorporated strips will be
held in their seats by for example simple insertion with
interference in the seats 15 and 16.
Even though in the above description the grooves 15 and 16 are open
at the sides toward the inside of the rail, it is possible to
provide the grooves 15 and 16 with side opening toward the outside
of the rail.
Finally, even if the cylindrical form of the magnets is
advantageous for the simplicity of making seats in the elements 17
and 18 it would be possible to have magnets of any form while
making the appropriate seats in said elements.
* * * * *